The Pateros municipal government will implement a strict granular lockdown starting Wednesday when Metro Manila shifts to the general community quarantine (GCQ) status.
Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III said the granular lockdown will be imposed as Pateros’ active coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases have increased to more than 600.
As of Sept. 6, Pateros has 638 active COVID-19 cases including 40 new cases out of 6,262 confirmed cases. It also recorded 5,546 recoveries and 78 deaths.
Ponce said the granular lockdown will be implemented with the help of the Pateros police and Philippine Air Force (PAF).
The mayor held a meeting with the police and Air Force contingent on Monday and was scheduled to meet with barangay leaders on Tuesday to discuss the guidelines and identify the areas in Pateros that will be placed under granular lockdown.
“Everyone should be prepared as this will be very strict. What will happen is when you are under granular lockdown, workers will not be allowed to go out except health workers. Businesses under granular lockdown will not be allowed to open except when they are essential,” Ponce said during a live broadcast on Facebook Monday. This will be done, he said, to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The mayor appealed for understanding from the public, saying the new policy is being implemented by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the municipal government.
“I also appeal to everyone to make it your personal responsibility to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Let us act responsibly,” he said.
The National Capital Region will be under GCQ from Sept. 8 to 30. The IATF approved the implementation of granular lockdown in areas that have high COVID-19 cases.